The Staging Handbook

As a passionate champion of rare works, I recommend this Shakespearean source-play without hesitation. Those familiar with KING LEAR will find plenty to enjoy here: the happy ending is a healing antidote to Shakespeare's heavy finale; the absence of the father-son subplot from this anonymous play has the advantage of a shorter and tighter script; the language, unlike Shakespeare's, is fairly easy. Like the other Globe Quartos titles, the published format of this NHB edition of KING LEIR is in every way superb: apart from a crystal-clear printed text, an introduction, textual notes, glossarial notes, and a synopsis of the plot are included. Not to be missed.

Just knowing the history behind Lear and Shakespeare and Marlowe and Kidd - makes this reading even more fascinating. You first must know King Lear, then study its history and you will find this to be a great resource. The name changes, the character changes, the condenscing of scenes. I would love to see this performed!